Employment Minister Michaelia Cash says most Newstart recipients do the right thing

Michaelia Cash on Newstart figures

New figures show an alarming number of dole recipients have had their payments stopped for refusing to look for work.

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78 per cent of those on Newstart have had at least one suspension in the past year, for failing to look for work, failing to show up for jobs, or sabotaging interviews.

More than 61,000 people have received 10 or more suspensions.

"The whole new system that the coalition designed is very much focused on ensuring that we are working with you, your individual circumstances so that you are able to be actively out there looking for work," Employment Minister Michaelia Cash told Sunrise.

"The majority of people on Newstart, they actually move through the system and exit that payment within about 12 months."

"What these statistics do show is that there is a small cohort of people who are flouting the system."